Garry Bjorklund Suspected of DUI Crash Last Night (over 3x legal limit)

Prefontaine didn’t kill himself. Died in fatal car crash.

Pre was an habitual drunk driver. Pre was also a an habitual reckless driver. In the day most police officers had a catch and release policy with Pre. After his death all of them regretted that they let him loose.

Pres death wasn't an accident it was an eventuality.

I’ve never heard there was a “catch and release” policy for Pre. Were you with the Eugene Police Department back in the ‘70s or did you hear it from a friend of a friend?

Im calling bullsh*t.

Killed himself.

Just glad he took no one else with him.

Throw the book at him. My cousin was killed by a drunk. I feel no sympathy towards those who would drive drunk.

Eh? Finish with them and toss them out? What are you talking about. Do you help transition world class runners as they retire? Does anyone?

I'm shocked that runners are people, when it comes down to it.

Unfortunately, need to include Henry Rono in this list.

It is not only distance runners. Just yesterday Marshaun Lynch was arrested for DWI and the LV Raider, WR (Henry Ruggs?), I think also killed someone while driving drunk two years ago. MLBer Josh Hamilton is another whose career was cut short by addition.

Henry Rono never drove drunk. Try again.

Heard it from two police officers, fanboy. Pre was a menace to society. His drinking and driving was an open secret in Eugene.

Pretty easy thing to say anonymously online.

FWIW, I know someone who worked at the same bar as Pre, dated one of his friends, and was at the fateful party. She said she had never known him to drive "drunk," by the standards of the time, nor had she ever heard any suggestion that he did. Nobody thought he was drunk that night. Of course, in the 70s, "buzzed" driving was not considered to be the same thing as "drunk" driving.

I’m still calling bulls*t. The police don’t pull over every single car they see at night so he would have had to be swerving and/or speeding just about every night to be frequently stopped. If they were going to let him go anyway, why would they even bother to pull him over?

Not everyone loved Pre and even at that time many people were appalled by drunk drivers. If your story is true, there is no way it wouldn’t have come out at the time of his death.

At that time DUI was barely an issue in terms of criminality and it would be unusual for cops to "catch and release" anyone. They'd just tell you drive carefully if you appeared inebriated.

Definitely a sad, sad story to read about BJ. Truly one of the kindest and most humble of the top U.S. runners of his time.

We all have flaws, we all make mistakes. For most of us those flaws and mistakes are not made widely known or publicized, as is the case in this instance.

While no excuse for what BJ allegedly did, we ought to remember each of us is far from perfect before casting the stone and judging.

We don't know if BJ is addicted or if this was an anomaly. Regardless, lets be in his corner to support him - and perhaps more importantly - lets be in the corner of the people in our lives where we have contact and can help.

Support does not mean the actions are condoned, but that we help that individual in whatever way we can to move past the challenge, learn, and not repeat (and make restitution as necessary).

Nearly every single person I know with a drivers license has driven over the legal limit at least once. I know I have. I haven’t in a long time since I don’t drink at all anymore.

I’m not defending drunk driving by any means, but to act like it’s some rare occurrence is naive.

That said, 3X the legal limit is extremely drunk.

Well you and every one you know is a scumbag and I hope you wrap your car around a tree before you hurt someone else.

Can you not read? He says he doesn’t drink anymore. Educate yourself and you can learn to read.

All good. I understand the animosity, especially on an anonymous message board.

I can confidently say I will never do it again.

I do wonder on night runs how many drunk people are driving by me. Especially on a weekend night, I’d say it’s at around 5-10% of drivers.

The original list has names of distance runners that had alcohol addictions, (Wanjiru, Kiprop), not just DWIs. I only said to add Rono to the list. In the next paragraph I give examples of other pro athletes that have/had issues with alcohol. Again, not necessarily DWIs.

I must have it a cord.